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MOUNT VERNON, 



WHAT MAY BE SEEN THERE 

OR, THE 

ORPHANS' EXCURSION 



HOME OF WASHINGTON; 

BEING A 

DESCRIPTION IX VERSE 



TH?: MORE IMPORTANT RELICS OF THE MANSION, THE 
BEAUTIFUL SCENERY, AND THE VARIOUS 
OBJECTS OF INl^REST ABOUT 
THE PLACE. 



< HOPING THAT THIS MAY PROVE A PLEASANT AND USEFUL 
MEANS OF AWAKENING THE INTEREST, AND OF 
AIDING THE MEMORY OF SUCH AS HAVE 
BEEN, OR MAY HEREAFTER GO 
THERE, THE WRITER PUTS 
4 IT FORTH FOR WHAT 

-< IT IS WORTH. 

< 



[COPYRIGHT/i8X4.J 

By JOHN B/KELLOGG. 



< 



WASHINGTON, I). C: 

C. W. RmiWN, PrINTEU, 92i F SlItKKT NoiMirwEST. 

18S4. 



MOUNT VERNON, 

AND 

WHAT MAY BE SEEN THERE 

OK, THE 

ORPHANS' EXCURSION 

TO THE 

HOME OF WASHINGTON; 

BEING A 

J)ESCRIPTION IN VERSE 

OF 

THE MORE IMPORTANT RELICS OF THE MANSION, THE 
BEAUTIFUL SCENERY, AND THE VARIOUS 
OBJECTS OF INTEREST ABOUT 
THE PLACE. 



HOPING THAT THIS MAY PROVE A PLEASANT AND USEFUL 

MEANS OF AWAKENING THE INTP]REST, AND OF 

AIDING THE MEMORY OF SUCH AS HAVE 

BEEN, OR MAY HEREAFTER GO 

THERE, THE WRITER PUTS 

IT FORTH FOR WHAT 

IT IS WORTH. 



[Copyright, 18>f.] 



By JOHN B. KEL^OGC^^T 

APR 11 1884 

WASHINGTON, D. C^/ rr m/ ^ ;;^J » ^' "^^^ 
C. W. Brown, Printer, 923 F Stuket N'oi!Tiiw*>^r-' 

18S4. 



.5 



:preface. 



Last Autumn, by Captain Blake's invitation, we took a number 
of our Orphan friends to Mount Vernon. Mr. Dillon photo- 
graphed us standing on the piazza. 

To make the picture a pleasant birthday present to the chil- 
dren, and Christmas present to some of my friends, the following 
])oem was written with no thought of printing it. The task of 
copying it for each one was so great that my friends advised the 
printing of it. Hence this printed form. 

Being written during the two holiday weeks, amid many in- 
terruptions, it was too hastily done to be well done. 

It is affectionately dedicated to the orphans of the " Protestant 
Orphan Asylum." The profits, if any, will be given to them. 

John B, Kellogg. 



The Orpljans' Excursioij to hjouijt Yerijon. 



The autumn day was bright and clear, — 
None sweeter crowned the fading year, — 
And gladness filled each orphan breast, 
That they by Captain Blake's request. 
Might walk through homestead paths that led 
Where Washington was wont to tread. 
Through withered leaves, and faded bloom. 
Past willows green, they reach the tomb. 
Half hidden in the rising ground. 
Mid forest trees, and graves around. 
Through iron bars they silent gaze 
On tablets white that speak his praise ; 
And marble caskets that enclose 
The relics in their last repose. 
Then rising still, on our right side 
The sloping lawn soon opens wide. 
Autunm flowers and fading grass 
And scattered trees they quickly pass; 
And grand old oak, that in his time. 
Battled with winds and storms sublime; 
While nothing now but stump below, 
And gnarled roots, its vigor show. 
Ascending still, at our left hand 
The old brick barn and out-sheds stand 
Where kind autumn's bounteous hoard, 
By th' master's frugal hand was stored. 
That spacious barn has often been 
The center of a busy scene. 



A few steps, and our liai)py hand 
Upon the grand piazza stand: 
And while they paused, a lovely sight, 
The sun's swift pencil dipped in light, 
By Dillon's aid had sketched each one 
As true as life when it Avas done. 
Their luncheon he did not forget; 
The dog was in the picture set. 

That best of nature's noblemen 
Displayed an eye for beauty, when 
lie with artistic skill and grace, 
Made this rare spot his dwelling place. 
From far inland, Potomac brings 
The treasures of a thousand springs ; 
And in his ceaseless, seaward flow. 
Spreads wide their shining wealth below 
Beyond, the wooded hills arise. 
And far away they greet the skies. 
Along the hill the woodlands soar. 
And down where ripples kiss the shore, 
They lift their heads to sun and breeze, 
Nod and whisper to their fellow trees. 

Just down the hill a little way, 
A vault is found, now in decay. 
We enter. It is dark and cold, 
With oders here of damp and mold. 
The store of ice was treasured here, 
To serve when summer heats appear. 

The mansion now: The Bastile Key, 
Is the first relic that we see. 
When La Fayette, by our request. 
Became the nation's honored guest. 
This relic of tyrannic power, 
lie left for us as Fi'eedom's dower. 
When that key on a victim turned, 



Full oft his fate was never learned. 
Sometimes a man sent pris'ners there 
Who did at last the same fate share. 

The northeast room we next invade, 
Whereon his chief expense was laid. 
Historic paintings grace each wall : 
In one that far excels them all, 
The general, mounted with his aids, 
A coward officer upbraids, 
Whose action many lives had cost, 
And an important battle lost. 

The man seems very loth to lingej". 
Before the outstretched arm and finger. 
The white horse, continental dress, 
And vigorous action, all express 
A soldier in his early prime, 
Teculiar to the olden time. 
A harpsichord which stands alone. 
When touched, gives forth a weird tone 
TTiat seems almost a weeping moan 
For old-time owners long since gone. 
The old " Bastile," in model form 
Of granite, makes a wrathful storm 
Within us kindle at the sight : 
It was our freedom's glowing light 
That banished it to realms of night ; 
That led the French, e'en to the throne. 
In rage, to raze the lowest stone. 

This mantle by Canova made, 
In sculpture delicate arrayed, 
To which Carrara marble lent 
Its published grace, a gift, was sent, 
By Samuel Vaughn, an English friend; 
Thus friendship did with beauty blend, 
French pirates seized it on the sea: 



When tliey learned whose the gift would be, 

They sent it on its way unharmed. 

Thus nobler sentiments have charmed 

Pirates, than relic-fiends to day; 

For now, because they break awa}' 

What'ere they can, a wire screen 

Encloses most that can be seen. 

To keep the relic-fiend from plunder, 

In these days a hogish wonder, — 

Who, but for iron bars and stones, 

Would carry ofi" the hero's bones. 

From the main hall upon the right, 
A few quaint things attract the sight : 
A parlor, small, with a fire-place, 
And book wherein our names we trace : 
At left, the stairway of the hall 
We pass, on La Faj^ette to call, 
Whose bust, with calm and noble face, 
Is chief attraction of the place. 
Here Washington stands calm and mute. 
Receiving at Trenton a salute. 
Here is the Earl of Chatham too, 
To colonies oppressed so true. 
Then passing on, a room we find. 
That was to valued books assigned. 
Behind glazed doors in order stood 
The treasures of the wise and good. 
There's little else attractive found, 
Though seventeen closets stand around. 
The main hall, and this room, between. 
We find installed the household queen. 
Her portrait, with it's charming face. 
So full of dignity and grace. 
Adorns the wall. Others are there, 
And fine, but none with her compare. 



And •' Horse Shoe Falls" with ceaseless pour, 
Is here, without Niag'ra's roar. 

Beyond the books, a narrow flight 
Of stairs we climb — turn to the right — 
Into a narrow hall we're led, 
And through the slatted door, the bed 
Whereon the great man died, is seen. 
The relic-hog has often been 
Successful here — all things were marred — 
With scissors clipped, by jack-knives scarred; 
And then at last the door was barred. 
One day the keeper, on his round, 
Within this room a woman found. 
This relic-fiend was stuffed about ; 
Of stolen things he cleaned her out. 
" You may get out, as you got in," 
Said he, and locked the thief within. 
He had not from her long withdrawn. 
When she and pillow-slips were gone! 
Now passing through this narrow hall, 
At room of La Fayette we call: 
But only through the slatted door 
Could look, as at the room before; 
Because the relic-fiend would steal 
Some thing, and no compunction feel. 
Each time, when La Fayette was guest, 
'Twas here he found his nightly rest. 
It is arrayed as it had been 

irst ordered by the household queen. 

" full-length " sketch of Washington, 
By Stuart's master-hand was done, 
And then by Ormsby's graver traced ; 
That noble picture here is placed. 
A fine engraving, by Leroux, 
Of La Fayette, hangs here too. 



8 



A small <2;uest-chanil)er next appears : 
Things of revolutionary j'ears. 
As relics, hang on every side, 
And tell how souls of men were tried. 
In here Canova's Washington 
Sits with a Roman toga on. 
llis sword now lies beneath his feet: 
Recording laws, on tablet neat, 
lie is a statesman now complete. 
The other rooms upon this floor 
Atibrd but little to explore. 
A narrow stairway leads above 
Where lady Martha mourned her love, 
Whose tomb could easily be seen 
In winter's snow and summer's green. 
That room she never occupied, 
Wherein her husband drooped and died. 
Death came and took him from her sight^ 
And spread o'er her the mourning night. 

There still remain, on this third floor, 
For us to see, four chambers more. 
Some day these rooms may overflow 
With things we would be glad to know. 
But now appear but tame and bare 
Of relies, either rich or rare. 
By winding steps again we rise — 
And from the tower feast our eyes, 
With hill and dale, and mountain-land, 
And with Potomac's sweep so grand: 
The Capitol and Monument 
Are in the landscape prominent. 
Forts Washington and Foot are near, 
And farms on every side appear; 
And steamers, tugs, and ferryboats, 
And every craft that commerce floats. 



9 



Due west, a half a mile or more, 

The porter watched : his watching o'er, 

He's joined his much loved master's sleep, 

And now the stars his vigil keep. 

Of this fine scene there's much to tell; 

Bat we can now no longer dwell. 

And now, hy this curved colonnade, 

The quaint old kitchen we invade: 

See this black crane with pot-hooks hung, 

Where mav a kettle bub'ling sung 

Its clieerfnl tune, o'er blazing fire, 

To serve the appetite's desire. 

And every one is sure to note 

The quaint old ehinmey's monstrous throat, 

So wide, indeed, its gaping hollow. 

With ease might all the servants swallow. 

The narrow jambs, the low Dutch range. 

To modern eyes seem very strange. 

The cook would think she roughly fared 

If dinners now were so prepared. 

What nmsic through the kitchen sounded. 

When the hominy was pounded. 

The mortar made the rafters ring, 

When'er the pestle beat the thing. 

Here too are rooms for milk and meat, 

And all that made home-life complete. 

The northern colonnade extends 

The corner, and in a Idtchen ends. 

When extra dinners were in need, 

Because there were more guests to feed. 

This kitchen too was put to use. 

To roast, chick, turkey, pig, or goose 

Beneath this roof, the butler's store, 

(A needful stock in days of yore,) 

Was kept. For when they came to dine. 



10 



Their IViends mnst have a drink of wine. 

A bacchanalian fashion sure, 

"^Phat curses homes of rich and poor. 

Around the lawn a carriage-drive 
Shows that the master was alive 
To all that makes a home-life sweet : 
The cooling shade for summer's heat, 
From aged trees, is shading yet, — 
The trees which his own hand had set. 
The fine magnolia, standing near 
The butler's house, year after year, 
Mas scattered its broad shining robe 
In sweet mementoes o'er the globe: 
The hemlock, poplar, gum, and pine. 
Mimosa, aspen, all combine. 
With linden, beech, and the wild cherry, 
To charm with blossom, leaf and berry. 

The garden next: We enter here 
Twixt four large trees, still standing near. 
From it no gate the stranger locks; 
'Tis trimmed by double hedge of box 
On either side, square cut and high. 
And flat at top. The practiced ejQ 
Will quick discern, that they have been. 
Long tenants, — many seasons seen. 
Near four feet high, and three feet wide, 
With gloss}^ leaves on every side, 
They have an artificial look, 
That always shows the pruning hook. 
These hedges have been left unchanged 
In forms that Washington arranged. 
These passed, and this conservatory. 
Which keeps some plants in summer glory, 
When hill and dale are clad in snow. 
Will now its varied beauties show. 



11 



It is quite past their blooming time, 
Though some just now are in their prime. 
Geraniums, and flow'ring nuiple, 
Which may be considered staple, 
So common are they everywhere, 
Smile, or breathe fragrance on the' air. 
Here, a monthly rose is glowing; 
There, " Mary Washingtons" are growing 
In pots, to bloom on every hand. 
Mid loving friends, through all the land ; 
For hundreds are sold every year, 
To friendly ones who visit here. 

This Passion Flower, widespreading round, 
In South America first was found ; 
And in its charming grace alone 
Excels th' beauty of our own. 
'Tis now beyond it's blooming day. 
Though creeping on its verdant way. 
This corner holds a lemon-tree. 
And real lemons there you see. 
This sago-pahii, and centmy -plant 
Are of the rare, and very scant 
Remains, that still, in health, survive 
The fire of eighteen thirty-five. 

And now south side of this sweet lawn. 
Around a rustic table drawn. 
We take our lunch — near these large trees — 
Of sardines, sandwiches and cheese : 
Then throng around the crystal well — 
Slake our thirst — ^hark ! 'tis not a bell — 
The steamer's gong is long and loud, 
Invitina: back the curious crowd. 



A SKETCH OF THE ORPHANS IN THE PHOTOGRAPH 
[No. 1 on the left, No. 2 next, and so on.] 

No. 1. Miss Florence Tenly heads the Ust; 
Twelve flowinjji: years her cheeks have kissed. 
Her fine dark hair, her hright l)hie eye, 
Her well set head and forehead iiigh, 
Her mouth that utters pleasant words, 
Her voice that hath the ring of hirds, 
Bespeak for this, our little maid, 
A soul for sweet refinement made: 
With an active mind, and self-possessed, 
Slie must be placed among our best. 

No. 2. Miss Lizzie Hatcher's dark brown eyes, 

Wherein much latent mischief lies, 

Are suited well to her black hair. 

Smooth features, and complexion fair. 

Over her head twelve years have past, 

And now her teens are coming fast. 

This cheerful, sportive little maid, 

For song an early taste displayed. 

No. 3. Miss Lizzie Weble long we've known, 

From childhood till a woman grown: 

A girl of stout good will possessed; — 

Whate'er her task she did her best: 

And now she plies, with equal ease, 

The needle or piano keys. 

A short, thick set, true German lass; 

Blue eyes, and teeth that few surpass, — 

So reticent, — a hasty word 

From Ae?' lips lye have never heard. 



13 



No. 4. Miss Lily Bailey, tall and fair, 
With eyes of blue, and darkish hair, 
Has a kind heart and much good sense, 
With natural love of excellence: 
At piano-practice takes her turn, 
In which she is not slow to learn. 

No. 5. In Mamie Vessey, now fourteen, 
A quick intelligence is seen. 
A bright dark eye, with kindly tone, 
That makes you wish it were your own. 
She's tall and trim, with raven hair. 
And always neat — complexion fair: 
T>y doing different things at will, 
Displays a good mechanic skill. 

No. 6. Miss Anna Goerner at sixteen, 
Sees this life's most enchanting scene: 
A blonde is she, blue-eyed and fair, 
Her eyes and face show humor there; 
Sometimes original and droll, 
And oft with laughter fills the soul. 
She's good to work, and kind, and free. 
And doeth all these cheerfully. 

No. 7. Miss Anna Shafe, now fourteen ; — 
An age that stands half way between 
That point of time when every lass 
Is said to be " 'twixt hay and grass." 
Dark hair, and pleasant dark brown eyes, 
A tongue that oft too rapid flies. 
And makes the sense obscure. Less speed 
The kind-hearted girl stands in need. 
She's strong and fat, and good to work; 
Too fond of play — ^but not a shirk. 



14 



Xo. 8. Miss Anna McIntosh appears 

To Ije a girl of fourteen years. 

She's tall, with eyes 'tAvixt brown and gvny^ 

Where cheerfulness is wont to [)lay; 

So tree from faults and aught unkind, 

In every one a friend she'll tind. 

No. !». Miss Fanny Westnedge, just sixteen. 

Tho' plump, is neither fat nor lean; 

Her eyes, wherein the blue prevails, 

Which some occult disease assails, 

Give her a shy, retiring air — 

As if to liide some thing with care. 

Her eyes are hirge, and they are blight, 

And do not show defective sight. 

A pleasant and kind-hearted girl, 

Tliat may become a precious pearl. 

No. 10. Next on our list Miss Rosa (treen, 
A black-eyed girl about fourteen; 
A slender, keen, half brunette ; 
Her eyes are small, her teeth well set. 
She's quick, sharp, wiry and strong, 
And free to work the whole day long: 
She talks but little, thinks the more; 
1 'resents her own from stock in store. 
Her culture what the street could give, 
Till she veith th' orphans came to live. 
It gives us great pleasure to believe 
None better now the past retrieve. 

No. 11. Miss Rosa Thompson's thii-teen years 
Were greatly marred by early tears; 
The cup its baleful power spread 
O'er all her home— its joys were dead. 
^Vq hope temp'rance and peace may come, 



15 



And joy again smile on lier home. 

Park hair, bkie eyes — not quite brunette; 

Small but full — nothing to regret. 

she has a heart that's free from guile, 

And face that kindles with a smile. 

.Sensible and sure to be polite, 

Would shun the wrong and do the right. 

No. 12. Miss LoTTA Hamil, past thirteen, 

Though small, is always plump and clean; 

Her hair is dark, her eyes are gray. 

And mirth makes wrinkles round them play; 

Whatever she may undertake, 

"^Phat thing she will be sure to make. 

She is a girl of much self-poise. 

Does everything without much noise; 

Sometimes too quick, but on the whole, 

She's surely gaining self-control. 

There's sure success in life for her 

When she's her own brave conqueror. 

No. 13. Miss Mary Moreland at sixteen, 

Is her own heart's most royal queen ; 

Every tenant should obey her will : 

When she commands them, " Peace be still!" 

Blue eyes, brown hair, and rosy cheek. 

With rounded form, good health bespeak. 

She's free to ever\^ kind of laboi- — 

With right good will helps she her neighbor — 

With cheerful smiles she lights her way, 

And blesses all each passing day. 

No. 14. Miss Stella Wagner, 'mong these few, 

Has also sparkling eyes of blue; 

Of all these girls the most petite. 

With features fair, and plump and neat;, 



16 



She's shrewd, and shar[), and quick and smart, 
And never loth to do her part. 

No. 15. Miss C^OKA (tKaham now appears, 

[n her full tide of fotnteen years; 

She has dark red hair, light hrown eyes, 

And much expression in them lies; 

Short neck, and shoulders broad and square; 

Laro^e head, complexion very fair; 

All her limbs are round and well filled, 

A ii:irl of short and sturdy l)nild: 

Physical beauty is not her forte: 

As model, the artist would not coui't: 

Hei' Ambition to win and rise, 

Is where her greatest beauty lies; 

Her mind is quick — memory strong — 

Not many faults to her belong; 

Not slow to feel, nor to resent, 

And mostly swayed by good intent. 

A girl of strong points, but will need 

Much self-control would she succeed. 



V84 




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